The Kurdish people, whose existence was denied by the Treaty of Lausanne, launched a resistance under the leadership of Sheikh Said, a resistance that was brutally crushed. Sheikh Said and his companions were executed on June 29, 1925, in Dağkapı Square in Amed (Diyarbakır).

In the hundred years since, the Turkish state has not abandoned its policies of assimilation and annihilation, nor have the Kurdish people given up their pursuit of freedom. To preserve historical memory and shed light on the events of that time, a two-day conference will be held in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, on the centenary of Sheikh Said’s resistance. The event, organized by the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK), will take place on June 27–28. On June 29, a rally and march will follow in Cologne, Germany.

Zübeyir Aydar, a member of the Executive Council of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) and a member of the conference’s organizing committee, spoke to ANF regarding the preparations for the conference and the rally.

The Sheikh Said uprising began with a provocation

Zübeyir Aydar stated that the Sheikh Said uprising was triggered by a deliberate provocation orchestrated by Turkish state officials of the time. He explained that the Azadî Society had been making preparations, but the uprising broke out in February 1925 when Turkish authorities attempted to detain Sheikh Said’s companions in the district of Pîran in Amed. According to Aydar, the Turkish state staged this provocation in order to catch the Azadî Society off guard during the depths of winter.

The Treaty of Lausanne erased the Kurds

Aydar emphasized that the Sheikh Said uprising was a response to the denial of Kurdish existence under the Treaty of Lausanne. He said, “The Kurds reacted to a republic that was founded on a policy of singularity. They wanted to launch a struggle for liberation. In response, the state pursued a policy of repression and destruction.” Aydar noted that the Turkish state carried out ethnic cleansing during its foundational years, stating that Armenians, Syriacs, and Chaldeans were subjected to genocide in 1915, Pontic Greeks in 1919, and Kurds in 1925. Aydar highlighted the importance of preserving historical memory in the face of massacres and genocides and said: “It is essential to be able to discuss what happened, when and where. In the hundredth year, remembering those who paid the price and revealing the truth within an academic framework is vital. That is the purpose of this conference.”

A message was sent to Öcalan on the day of Sheikh Said’s execution

Zübeyir Aydar pointed to a striking example of how those responsible for historical massacres never forget: the Turkish state sentenced Abdullah Öcalan to death on June 29, the anniversary of Sheikh Said and his companions’ execution. Aydar said, “Even if we fall asleep, even if we forget, they remember everything. The decision to sentence Chairman Apo to death on June 29 was a significant message. They were saying, ‘We will do to you what we did to Sheikh Said and his companions.’ We must not forget this either, and we must understand history in its full context.” Aydar emphasized the academic depth of the upcoming conference, noting that the issue will be discussed from every angle, with workshops exploring the events before and after the uprising. He also stated that the political and social context of Kurdistan will be addressed and reminded that the Sheikh Said uprising impacted not only Northern Kurdistan (Bakur) but all parts of Kurdistan.

The conference and rally were prepared from a national perspective

Aydar stated that the conference as a whole aims to deliver the message “We have not forgotten, and we will not forget.” He also reminded that the burial places of Sheikh Said and his companions remain unknown. He called for justice and the establishment of a truth commission.

Aydar recalled the rally to be held in Cologne, Germany after the conference and stated: “This is also a commemoration of martyrs. This conference and rally have been prepared with a national perspective. It is not about one party’s ideology or approach, it has been organized with national reflexes. Kurdish uprisings are part of our collective memory and values. Everyone must approach them accordingly.”

Kurdish uprisings ended at the gallows

Zübeyir Aydar stated that the Sheikh Said uprising is also directly connected to today’s debates around resolution and dialogue in Turkey. He said: “There is an ongoing dialogue process in Northern Kurdistan led by Mr. Öcalan. If you look at the present, 1925 is still continuing today. But we are approaching it from a different angle. We are trying to solve it at the table. Just as gallows were erected during every Kurdish uprising, they were set up then as well. Today, we are trying to build negotiating tables, and indeed, such a table now exists. All Kurdish uprisings ended at the gallows. But now, this 52-year PKK uprising is seeking a resolution through dialogue. That is what we are working towards. For this reason, it is essential to weave today’s efforts with the lessons of the past.” Aydar also issued a warning: “This does not mean that by talking about the past we are harming the process. Nor are we saying ‘let’s forget the past’ just because there is a process underway today. Everything is being presented within the framework of truth. This is our reality, and the past must be confronted.”

We invite everyone to Cologne on June 29

Aydar concluded with the following call for the rally: “June 29, 2025. We want to give a response to the gallows that were built one hundred years ago in Dağkapı Square in Amed. On that morning, gallows were prepared for Sheikh Said and forty-seven of his companions. All of them were executed. One hundred years later, as their grandchildren, as their successors who are determined to carry their cause to victory and resolution, we will gather in Cologne. This is not a rally organized by a particular party or group. It is a commemoration of martyrs. It is a rally where people will come together to remember those who were martyred a century ago. All Kurdish parties, institutions, individuals, and our people are invited. We call on everyone to join us in the rally square in Cologne.”